Public Morals Committee Member

The Student Council Office was steeped in a solemn chill. Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting mottled shadows across the floor.

When Watanabe Hayabara pushed open the door, the sound of his shoes against the floor broke the silence. He looked at Horikita Manabu, seated behind the desk, and asked with a hint of impatience, "President Horikita, what did you want? I'm a little short on time." Before he had even finished speaking, he pulled out the chair in front of the desk and sat down casually, leaning back slightly with an air of nonchalance.

Tachibana Akane, standing beside Horikita Manabu, stiffened slightly at his dismissive tone. Her fingers tightened around the folder, and she was just about to say something to defend the Student Council's dignity when Horikita Manabu suddenly raised a hand. Tachibana immediately understood and swallowed her words, silently watching Watanabe Hayabara with a hint of wariness.

Horikita Manabu looked at Watanabe Hayabara and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. A cold glint flashed across the lenses, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. In a steady voice, he said, "Watanabe Hayabara, I sincerely invite you to join the Student Council." Each word was clear and firm, carrying an undeniable authority.

"Sorry, President, but I have no intention of joining the Student Council." Watanabe Hayabara shook his head without hesitation, lightly tapping his fingertips against the desk in a steady rhythm. "I think you already know that. If you're sincerely looking to recruit a first-year student, you could consider Ichinose Honami from Class B. She'd be a great help to the Student Council." He turned down the offer with easygoing ease, even recommending someone else in the process.

"Ichinose Honami?" Horikita Manabu repeated the name, his gaze shifting slightly. "She is indeed quite well-known among the first-years. Unfortunately, we haven't received her application to join." His tone gave away little, as if he were simply stating a fact.

At that, Watanabe Hayabara's lips curled into a mocking smile. "I didn't apply either, did I, President Horikita?" He put particular emphasis on "President Horikita." "The funny thing is, you haven't even received Ichinose Honami's application."

"Is that so?" Horikita Manabu's expression did not change. He continued to look at Watanabe Hayabara calmly, as if the taunt had no effect on him. Only the fingers resting on the desk curled slightly.

Watanabe Hayabara's smile widened, the corners of his eyes lifting. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk, and his tone grew even more mocking. "Ichinose Honami's application was handled by Miyabi Nagumo, after all. What a shame that such an outstanding student was rejected by Miyabi Nagumo." He deliberately stressed the name, each syllable pointed, like a stone tossed into still water.

Tachibana Akane's breath caught, and her fingers clamped hard around the folder until her knuckles turned white. She glanced at Horikita Manabu. He still looked composed, but his gaze behind the lenses seemed colder. Only then did she quietly let out a breath.

"I'll look into Ichinose Honami's application. You needn't worry about that." Horikita Manabu lightly tapped the desk with his fingertips, his voice as steady as before. "The Student Council will address any issues involving fairness."

"That has nothing to do with me. I was only giving you a heads-up, President." Watanabe Hayabara straightened and slipped his hands into his uniform pockets. "I won't keep you any longer. I'll be going." As he spoke, he started to rise.

"A position on the Student Council would give you some freedom to act. Why not consider it?" Horikita Manabu suddenly spoke up, making another offer, his words carrying a faint hint of temptation.

"I don't want to get mixed up in tedious affairs. I'm not here to dispense justice, after all." Watanabe Hayabara looked back, a playful smile on his lips, but he did not stop walking.

"Watanabe Hayabara, you'd only need to hold a nominal position on the Student Council. You'd have the authority without having to deal with its daily business. What do you say?" Horikita Manabu's voice was firm and confident, as though he had anticipated the refusal.

Watanabe Hayabara stopped in his tracks. He turned around, surprise flickering in his eyes before it gave way to amusement. "The more tempting the offer, the more likely it is to hide a risk." He drew out the words as if weighing the pros and cons, then suddenly laughed a few seconds later. "Still, I'll accept."

Horikita Manabu began to clap slowly. The sound rang out clearly in the quiet office. Then he called, "Tachibana Akane."

"Oh... yes." Tachibana Akane was visibly taken aback, surprise written across her face. She quickly recovered and spread the documents she had been holding across the desk, somewhat flustered as she sorted the papers. "Watanabe, you just need to sign. The appointment notice will be posted on the school bulletin board for three days."

Watanabe Hayabara's gaze fell on the position listed on the document—"Public Morals Committee Member and Vice Secretary"—and a knowing smile tugged at his lips. He picked up the fountain pen on the desk and readily signed his name, his handwriting bold and free.

"President Horikita, you really do care about what's happening with the first-years," Watanabe Hayabara said with a smile, setting down the pen, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"The Student Council is indeed short-staffed in the position of Public Morals Committee Member. I believe you're capable of handling the role, Watanabe," Horikita Manabu replied with a smile, his gaze calm behind his glasses.

"If you don't mind my asking, who will preside over Tuesday's hearing?" Watanabe Hayabara leaned back slightly, the chair scraping faintly against the floor. He wore an inscrutable smile and tapped the desk in a steady rhythm, his eyes curious.

"The original plan was for Tachibana Akane to preside while I observed," Horikita Manabu said, turning to look at Tachibana Akane, his tone calm and even. "Since Watanabe has now become a Public Morals Committee Member, he'll preside instead. Tachibana and I will still be there."

Tachibana Akane quickly nodded and carefully gathered the signed documents, placing them in her folder. She gave Watanabe Hayabara a complicated look. This first-year student had joined the Student Council out of the blue, and every step—from making his conditions to readily accepting—seemed calculated. It was as if he had had a clear purpose from the beginning. She bit her lower lip gently, silently worrying about Horikita Manabu.

"President Horikita is only coming to see how much your younger sister has improved, isn't he?" Watanabe Hayabara raised an eyebrow, his tone openly teasing and his smile growing wider.

At that, Horikita Manabu habitually pushed his glasses up. A cold glint flashed across the lenses. He did not deny it, but simply remained silent, his gaze calmly fixed on Watanabe Hayabara, as if waiting for him to continue.

Seeing Horikita Manabu's reaction, Watanabe Hayabara was unsurprised. He chuckled and continued, "With Ayanokoji guiding her, she's learned to help others. But now she's started thinking for herself, so she rarely takes Ayanokoji's advice. I'm curious to see how far she'll grow." He paused, his fingers ceasing their taps, and his tone grew more serious.

Silence briefly fell over the office. Sunlight came through the gaps in the blinds, casting long, narrow shadows on the floor. Tachibana Akane tightened her grip on the folder, watching Watanabe Hayabara with surprise.

"Have you ever considered Tachibana Akane for the secretary position, President Horikita?" Watanabe Hayabara abruptly changed the subject. A meaningful smile played on his lips as he looked between Horikita Manabu and Tachibana Akane, his tone part curious, part teasing.

"What do you mean?" Horikita Manabu looked up at Watanabe Hayabara. His gaze behind his glasses was calm, and his tone revealed no emotion. He was clearly pretending not to understand, as if he had missed the implication.

At his words, Tachibana Akane's cheeks instantly flushed. She lowered her head, nervously picking at the edge of her folder as her heart began to race uncontrollably.

"It's nothing. See you at the hearing, President." Watanabe Hayabara chuckled and did not press further. He stood up, smoothed the creases in his uniform jacket, then turned and headed for the office door.

Click. The door shut, and silence once again filled the office.